Chinese agents pose as fake Green protesters to try to stop Rare Earths mining in the West

Given the advantage of controlling essential strategic resources, China would be crazy if they weren’t:

Pro-China group running online campaign against US rare-earths industry, says cybersecurity firm

Raghav Bikhchandani, ThePrint

report released Tuesday by Mandiant says a pro-China group named Dragonbridge has been using “nuanced tactics” against firms like Lynas, Appia, and USA Rare Earth. These included posing as local residents online to drum up protests against the construction of a Lynas rare-earths processing facility in Texas. The facility’s development is the result of an agreement signed between the US Department of Defense and Lynas to boost America’s rare-earths domestic industry.

“The accounts claimed that by placing the Lynas plant in Texas, the Biden administration would expose the area to irreversible environmental damage and the local population to radioactive contamination and adverse health effects such as cancer risks, gene mutation, and deformities in newborns,” the Mandiant report said.

‘Tactics to manipulate public discourse’

Elaborating on its claims, Mandiant also shared several screenshots of purported sockpuppet Twitter and Facebook accounts dating from April and May that called for a boycott and shared concerns over Lynas and its rare-earths plant. Mandiant also found other “newly identified” social media accounts that were criticising Appia and USA Rare Earth, and which posted memes or links that were “known Dragonbridge content”.

“Many of the usernames consisted of English-language names followed by seemingly random numeric strings.”

SecuritySolutions

“The private sector is now the victim of attacks by Chinese information operations which is growing increasingly aggressive,” John Hultquist, the Vice President of Mandiant Intelligence said.

” Information operations are typically a problem for civil society, governments, and platforms. They rarely target the private sector so directly and aggressively. This is a well-resourced campaign that’s grown significantly in size and scope compared to its recent activity in Ukraine.”

Among the Australian companies hit was ASX-listed Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, the world’s largest rare earths mining and processing company.

The effect of these particular protests doesn’t appear to be significant yet, but it suggests that China places great importance on controlling the supply of rare earths, that it doesn’t play fair, and that it’s quite likely that this goes on in other industries and public debates.

The US Dept of Defence has acknowledged the disinformation campaign and appreciates the diligence of Mandiant.

So how much of this goes on in the Climate debate?

h/t NetZero

 

10 out of 10 based on 56 ratings

49 comments to Chinese agents pose as fake Green protesters to try to stop Rare Earths mining in the West

  • #
    lindsay phillips

    Good morning Jo,
    Exhibit A of all the acolytes of the Beijing/Moscow “Useful Idiot” terrorist army.
    Throughout the OECD. countries, where people have had it way too good for way too long, those under about 40 have been publicly flagilating themselves claiming they are saving the world from certain Armageddon around the year 2030!!
    People who join in, & those that support them; Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain, the German Greens, the demomcrats & our unholy green-teal-labor alliance sooner or later are going to have to wake up & smell the coffee.
    Anyone who thinks that this whole anti-fossil fuel / anti-fertilizer / anti-pesticide / anti-western / anti-christian cancel culture crusade is just warm & fuzzy & totally harmless are deluding themselves!!
    Just take one look at the basket cases of Sri Lanka, South Africa (thanks Jo) & Germany (thanks Manhattan Contrarian), and you’ll know that this whole house of cards is only a few months away from total implosion!!
    Warm regards, reformed wamist of Logan.

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    • #
      OldOzzie

      Meanwhile in Australia – John Cain Arena in Melbourne Park bans Taiwan flags to avoid offending Communist China fans

      Max Mok 莫熾韜
      @maxmokchito

      At the China v Australia FIBA game tonight, I was assaulted by Chinese ultra nationalists for saying Free East Turkestan and Hong Kong independence.

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    • #
      Ted1

      Time to demand that China acknowledge Taiwan’s independence.

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      • #
        Hanrahan

        Taiwan should be feeling a little safer now after watching Russia’s dismal performance in Ukraine.

        Russia just had to drive their tanks over a line on a map, but they are too corrupt and booze addled to do that successfully. Chinese may not be drinkers but their military is nearly as corrupt and has never had to come face to face with a determined army. [They have avoided armed conflict with India]

        Many today would be unaware of the massive preparation by the Allies before D Day and they only had to cross the Channel under the protection of a still dominant navy. The Taiwan St. is 150 km wide.

        Lotsa luck China, you’ll need it.

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  • #
    lindsay phillips

    PS. As you’ve said once or twice yourself Jo, just get your popcorn ready & sit back & watch the show!!!

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  • #
    Kalm Keith

    Good question;

    “So how much of this goes on in the Climate debate?”

    Undoubtedly, a lot.

    The basics of the so called CO2 greenhouse effect are riddled with nonscience that fails in so many ways.

    A basic thermodynamic analysis of the daily Solar – Earth interaction would conclude that no “heat” is stored by CO2, it’s a junk concept.

    Assuming that there is such a thing as CO2 induced Global Warming, it is obvious that Human origin CO2 is quantitatively irrelevant as a contestant in the Global Incineration Logies.

    Lastly, our greatest danger here on Earth is the very real threat of Global Cooling; we need to stop the loss of ground origin IR back to space.

    The big question is to ask how much of our Democratic freedoms have been undermined by these Influencers?

    KK

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    • #
      David Maddison

      Global cooling is indeed the threat Kalm Keith, but by the time that becomes significant, perhaps within ten years, the West will have destroyed their power generation systems. Our societies then won’t be able to function without inexpensive reliable power from coal, gas, nuclear and real hydro.

      The Chicomms are very well aware the severe impact episodes of natural global cooling have on their society, hence them seeking to colonize Africa as a food and slave source. The Left of course will not complain about it.

      See graph: https://c3headlines.typepad.com/.a/6a010536b58035970c01b8d0f76684970c-pi

      That graph probably explains more about Chicomm intentions than any other document.

      And don’t forget what the Chicomm control of Tibet is about, it’s about controlling the source of the major rivers supplying south and South East Asia.

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    • #
      TdeF

      Of course it’s all a crock. Not just CO2 driven warming but the very idea that man made CO2 is significant at all. Every part of the logic chain to Climate Change is wrong. The UN is an evil organization which promotes the interests of its members, 75% of which are military dictatorships.

      However from Extinction rebellion to Coal Kills to the world is on fire, objective reality is shaped by an aggressive extreme socialist/communist media who push concepts which do not make any sense. There is no Climate Debate. Just as there was no WHO response to the Wuhan Flu. Australia is already under siege by asking reasonable questions about the origin of the man made virus.

      And who would be surprised to see the Chinese Communist Party actively undermining every other country? It’s the Art of War by Sun Tzu. China is getting ready for Stage II.

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    • #
      Ted1

      Thirty years ago I was told that our leading local “Green” professional demonstrator was funded through a Chinese restaurant.

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  • #
    David Maddison

    Western Governments, including Australia’s are getting “intelligence” agencies to look at the impact of supposed “climate change” and presumably people and groups that refuse to follow the narrative. See references below. (Funny, it’s almost as though all Western Governments are following directions from the same puppet master.)

    Communist and foreign infiltration into the “green” movement and government in general should be what these enormously powerful and well funded agencies should be looking into.

    In the US look at Rep. Eric Swalwell “relationship” with an actual Chinese spy.

    And in Australia:

    Veteran Labor MP, former senior adviser to Daniel Andrews’ has links to China’s Communist Party

    PREMIER Daniel Andrews has refused to answer questions about his parliamentary secretary for Asia Engagement and the veteran MP’s links to Chinese lobby groups.

    References:
    https://www.lawfareblog.com/biden-administration-releases-reports-national-security-risks-posed-climate-change

    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/veteran-labor-mp-former-senior-adviser-to-daniel-andrews-has-links-to-chinas-communist-party/news-story/5c12bbfccaa4abae257d8e1651d45fed?amp=

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/22/anthony-albanese-to-order-intelligence-chief-to-examine-security-threats-posed-by-climate-crisis

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  • #
    David Maddison

    Fortunately for the Chicomms, they don’t have to do too much because they have a vast Slave Army of Useful Idiots of the Left to do much of their work in Western countries. The Chicomms just need to do the thinking for the Slave Army, and issue them instructions.

    Notice also how many of the people surveillance activities used in China are now being adopted in the West such as a cashless society to make purchase monitoring, and later ration enforcement easier, monitoring of your social media by Government authorities, widepread facial recognition and tracking via cell phone data.

    You will of course have noted that Leftists never complain about the world’s largest CO2 emitter (by far) or the massive human rights violations in that country, including the killing of prisoners to order for body parts among many others.

    The Left are indeed the Fifth Column (although some are too ignorant or too stupid to see how they are being used by a superior intelligence to themselves).

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  • #
    Neville

    So why do so many countries want to pursue this TOXIC S & W fantasy and also their mania for equally TOXIC EVs?
    I suppose they’ll argue that we have to try and find new Rare Earths and we have to “keep up with China” etc, but it’s NOT the best return on a range of future energy investments.
    Here’s the best short quote from Mark Mills and the link.

    “According to Mark Mills, building one wind turbine requires 900 tons of steel, 2,500 tons of concrete, and 45 tons of non-recyclable plastic and solar power requires even more cement, steel, glass, and other metals—notably rare earth minerals. Global demand for rare-earth minerals would need to increase by between 300 percent and 1,000 percent by 2050 to meet the Paris renewable goals. These minerals are generally mined in nations with oppressive labor practices. For more information on rare earth minerals, refer to this recent IER post.”

    https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/the-physical-impossibility-of-renewable-energy-meeting-the-paris-accord-goals/

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  • #
    Richard+Jenkins

    We are going to buy nuclear submarines. Who needs explosive weapons? China is winning all over the world and don’t even use a bullet.

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    • #
      Dennis

      Deterrents.

      10

    • #
      Hanrahan

      So was England – once, as was the USA and then Japan

      China has hit its peak. Domination through commerce is failing because they are making enemies faster than USA ever did.

      I am worried about Plan B. Would China balk at mass casualties to achieve domination? I doubt it, in fact they may see a nuclear war as killing two birds with the one stone: One destroying the US, two depopulating themselves.

      11

      • #
        Richard+Jenkins

        Where are the Chinese creating enemies? The pacific islands or African countries? Both Africans and the islands would love dams and reliable power. That is far more seductive than bombs. China has the Biden family under their control. The republican leader in the US senate is married to a Chinese shipping empire.

        10

  • #
    Neville

    AGAIN in this 5 minute video Mark Mills exposes their TOXIC new energy from rare Earths and the mining involved and the unbelievable future harm to our environment.
    And that future TOXIC harm would be everywhere and for a very poor return on their so called investment.

    https://www.prageru.com/video/how-much-energy-will-the-world-need

    81

    • #
      David Maddison

      Excellent video.

      Note that many Prager U videos are censored by YouTube and other social(ist) media because of their conservative orientation such as not follow ing the narrative on the anthropogenic global warming fraud.

      You have to watch them on the Prager U site which Neville linked to.

      141

    • #
      Monstro

      So, with that logic, you’d be dead set against the far more TOXIC use of nuclear and fossil fueled energy ?.

      118

      • #
        GlenM

        What with that logic would you replace an existing source with an alternative that is worse. Clean and green? I think not.

        131

    • #
      Hanrahan

      It’s not the mining of rare earths but the processing that is “dirty”. Australian miner Lynas planned to process their ore in Indonesia [I think] but the locals held that up for years. It was still unresolved when I lost interest.

      Had I held it would have been a good investment, they have moved from cents to over $9 so they must have solved their problems.

      11

      • #
        Sceptical+Sam

        It was Malaysia, Hanrahan.

        And the 5th columnists, including Friends of the Earth, which are either in the pay of the Peoples’ Republic of China, or just useful idiots being used by the Chinese Communist Party, succeeded in making it very difficult for Lynas to continue in Malaysia. In May 2019, Lynas announced that it will be moving some of its processing operations to Australia.

        30

  • #
    Geoffrey Williams

    We don’t need to be mining rare earth it’s a dirty business . .

    41

    • #
      Hanrahan

      The mining is no more “dirty” than other mining, it is the processing, and I’d guess that can be cleaned up at a cost – a cost Chine doesn’t pay.

      10

    • #
      Sceptical+Sam

      Then hand in your computer, your mobile phone, your TV set and all your other electronic goods Geoffrey.

      I’ll bet you don’t.

      20

  • #
    Ross

    Whenever I see reports of Chinese infiltration into western countries I think of Mack Horton (OAM, no less). Mack was the Australian olympic swimmer who was critical of his Chinese competitor, Sun Yang. Mack accused him of being a drug cheat. I suppose Mack was expecting some pushback from the Chinese over the whole affair. But, what he didn’t expect was the huge backlash he got from Australian based Chinese people. His parents home was even vandalised in suburban Melbourne. Even though Taiwanese flags were banned at a recent Australia vs China basketball match there were numerous Chinese flags and the support for the team was probably equivalent to the home team! We have even had the state Premier( Daniel Andrews) sign Victoria up to the Belt and Road initiative. Public buildings have been lit up in the Chinese colours also. We are becoming the useful idiots of the Chinese regime.

    232

    • #
      Sceptical+Sam

      It’s the left and the greens who are the useful idiots, Ross.

      That counts out the vast majority of people who write on this site of Jo’s.

      There are exceptions of course. You know who they are.

      41

  • #
    Neville

    Never forget that Labor wants a 43% co2 emissions reduction by 2030 and that’s only about 8 years away.
    So how will they achieve this TOXIC, RUINOUS target and at what cost to jobs and Australia’s future?
    And obviously this won’t make any difference to the climate or temps or storms or polar ice or droughts or floods or Polar bears or SLR or the GBR or etc, etc, so why are they trying to wreck our economy and for a guaranteed ZERO return?

    101

  • #
    Ronin

    “And obviously this won’t make any difference to the climate or temps or storms or polar ice or droughts or floods or Polar bears or SLR or the GBR or etc, etc, so why are they trying to wreck our economy and for a guaranteed ZERO return?”

    So China gets an uninterrupted run to be top dog.

    71

  • #
    Neville

    AGAIN here’s all countries co2 emissions since 1970 and never forget that Oceania ( Aust + NZ + island nations) would be accurately drawn as a BIRO line at the very bottom of this graph.
    And yet Labor/ Greens/ Teals etc BELIEVE they are saving the planet.
    Will we ever WAKE UP?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions#/media/File:World_fossil_carbon_dioxide_emissions_six_top_countries_and_confederations.png

    61

    • #
      TdeF

      And while fossil fuel CO2 output has gone up x4 in this short period, is that visible in CO2 vs time? No. Was the Covid shutdown of all transport world wide visible. No. Were the bushfires visible? No. Atmospheric CO2 is in rapid equilibrium with the massive reserves of the ocean and not at all determined by output of CO2 from all these events. No scientist would think so. The graph says it is not true. Humans have no effect at all on CO2 levels. That’s simple science. Anything else is an obvious lie. Now why would the UN lie to us?

      91

      • #
        TdeF

        And while bolting on ice core CO2 to instantaneous CO2 measurements makes CO2 into another scientifically wrong ‘hockeystick’ anyone looking at the CO2 vs time graph in isolation would see a straight line. Look at the graph and see if you can see any human activity at all or any exponential growth?

        41

  • #
    Zane

    China is Sun Tzuing the West into green submission.

    Remember the joke:- a solar panel asks a wind turbine what it thinks about renewable energy. The turbine replies ” I’m a big fan “.

    And nobody is laughing harder than China.

    81

  • #
    bobby b

    “So how much of this goes on in the Climate debate?”

    If by “this” you mean outright lying by people who have an agenda but try to hide it, then you’ve just described most of the warmenist blogs, forums, publishers, and profs out there.

    61

  • #
    Neville

    Why do we keep hearing the terms RENEWABLE energy or Green energy or Clean energy?
    Does anyone understand how stupid these descriptions are when we check the available data?
    Renewable is a sick joke and only applies for very short periods of time.
    Green is hilarious due to increased TOXICITY both BELOW and ABOVE the ground, FOREVER.
    Ditto so called “clean energy” because the MEGA increase in mining all around the world would be horrendous for every country and their environment.
    BUT we know that there has been more GREENING of the Earth for the last 30+ years because of the EXTRA co2 levels and of course all crops have enjoyed the extra plant food and we’ve reaped higher crop tonnages as a reward.
    Please stop and THINK.

    71

    • #
      Ronin

      “BUT we know that there has been more GREENING of the Earth for the last 30+ years because of the EXTRA co2 levels and of course all crops have enjoyed the extra plant food and we’ve reaped higher crop tonnages as a reward.

      That’s the real green , not the dribble from the left.

      51

  • #
    Neville

    So can Albo’s 43% co2 reduction lunacy by 2030 MEASURABLY change their so called Climate change?
    And by how much and when and at what cost to Aussie families and our ENVIRONMENT?
    And please no religious fanaticism or beliefs,just show us your data, so we can check your sums?

    31

    • #
      Rupert Ashford

      No, but Albo will probably also fine farmers like his cronies in NZ and the Netherlands.

      51

  • #
    John Hultquist

    John Hultquist, the Vice President of Mandiant Intelligence said.”

    I am not now, nor ever have been, a Vice President of anything.

    Interesting, though.

    50

  • #
    Graham Richards

    Just a wake up call:-

    Never ever take your eyes off George Soros or any organisation funded by him.

    41

  • #
    Garry

    FINALLY – something useful ASIO and ASIS can get their teeth into and do something practically useful. Full investigation of Chinese involvement in the green and climate change movement in Australia, PNG and the Pacific Islands, at the same time identifying and calling out Chinese agents of influence in Australia.

    30

  • #
    Bruce

    So how much of this goes on in the Climate debate? What “debate”?

    It is the way the game has been played since that strange Austrian post-card artists did his thing mid 20th Century.

    The soviets raised it to an art form post WW2, (global control of anti-war and “green” movements) and now our rice-propelled cousins are at it full blast.

    31

  • #
    Gerry, England

    ‘…adverse health effects such as cancer risks, gene mutation, and deformities in newborns..’

    Hey! That is the job of the vaccines!

    21